History Literature / Beloved

* JigsawPuzzlePlot: What exactly happens in the novel is gradually revealed throughout the novel, and even by the end it's not completely obvious.

* HeroicBSOD: Sethe's severe state of lethargy after [[spoiler: Beloved disappears]].

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Deconstructed severely. Sethe loves her children so much she tries to kill them to avoid slavery.

** Her personality [[ZigZaggingTrope takes a complete 180]] after the ice skating scene with her, Denver, and Beloved, gradually transforming her into a warm, motherly figure. [[spoiler: She then becomes obsessed with Beloved to the point of ignoring Denver and the outside world completely.]]

* PaterFamilicide: [[spoiler: This is what Sethe tried when the schoolteacher arrived at 124. She succeeded in slitting Beloved's throat, severely injured her two sons, and nearly bashed Denver's brains against the shed wall. Keep in mind that her oldest children were toddlers.]]

* SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Slavery is shown to be a horrible thing and Sethe thinks it was so terrible that she even commits murder so her kids don't have to suffer it.

* SympatheticMurderer: Sethe killed Beloved, but her reasoning is shown is she's ultimately shown as sympathetic.
* TitleDrop: Beloved, and the inscription on Sethe's daughter's tombstone.

* ParentalAbandonment: Beloved views her [[spoiler: murder at the hands of her mother]] as Parental Abandonment.

* InfantImmortality: [[spoiler: Horribly, horribly averted]]. Two year old Beloved is killed by her mother.

%%* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:What happens to Beloved at the end]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: In a non-romantic way, Denver for both her mother and Paul D. She becomes jealous of Paul D, who becomes an opponent for her affection, and she says she will protect Beloved from Sethe, and then the other way around. Beloved is also one of these, with her obsession over Sethe and attempts to have her all to herself.
%%* ContemplateOurNavels: Hoo boy.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Deconstructed severly. Sethe loves her children so much she kills them to avoid slavery.

* DysfunctionalFamily: And how. Everyone is very possessive of each other and the mother even tried to kill the children.

* SlaveryIsAspecialKindOfEvil: Slavery is shown to be a horrible thing and, Sethe thinks it was so terrible that she even commits murder so her kids don't have to suffer it.

%%* BloodSplatteredInnocents: Oh dear God, Sethe's children.

%%* ClingyJealousGirl: In a non-romantic way, Denver for her mother.

%%* {{Dedication}}: To "sixty million and more".
%%* DisappearedDad: Halle
%%* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: [[{{AvertedTrope}} No]], it's definitely not okay.
%%* DysfunctionalFamily: And how.

%%* FullFrontalAssault: Beloved in the novel's climax.

* GilliganCut: Sethie plainly refuses to go to the carnival. Next line she is already dressed and they are on their way.
%%* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Gone horribly, HORRIBLY wrong.
%%* InfantImmortality: [[spoiler: Horribly, horribly averted]].
%%* JigsawPuzzlePlot

%%* MamaBear: Played ''very'' darkly.

%%* MindScrew: One of the best examples you'll find in English literature.
* MyGreatestFailure: For Oprah; she spent years trying to get the film made and despite hyping it on her show for the bulk of 1998, it flopped at the box office. This is partly because Oprah stayed true to the book's dark tones, which scared off critics.

%%* PsychopathicManchild: Beloved.
%%* RapeAsDrama
%%* SugarAndIcePersonality: Beloved.

* YouAreNumberSix: There were several slaves named Paul at Sweet Home. Paul D's brothers names were Paul A and Paul F. It's quite dehumanizing and suggests a total lack of identity and interchangeability of slaves in their master's minds.

%% ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.

It was [[TheFilmOfTheBook made into a film]] in 1998 starring Oprah Winfrey and Creator/DannyGlover.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a7b39995c6641a7893475c04bc3f88de.jpg]]

''Beloved'' (1987) is a UsefulNotes/PulitzerPrize winning {{novel}} by Creator/ToniMorrison.

It was made into a film in 1998 starring Oprah Winfrey and Creator/DannyGlover.

%%* [[PsychopathicManchild Psychopathic Womanchild]]: Beloved.

%%* [[spoiler: InfantImmortality]]: [[spoiler: Horribly, horribly averted]].

* [[spoiler: PaterFamilicide]]: [[spoiler: This is what Sethe tried when the schoolteacher arrived at 124. She succeeded in slitting Beloved's throat, severely injured her two sons, and nearly bashed Denver's brains against the shed wall. Keep in mind that her oldest children were toddlers.]]

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:What happens to Beloved at the end]].

* BloodSplatteredInnocents: Oh dear God, Sethe's children.

* ClingyJealousGirl: In a non-romantic way, Denver for her mother.
* ContemplateOurNavels: Hoo boy.
* {{Dedication}}: To "sixty million and more".
* DisappearedDad: Halle
* DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale: [[{{AvertedTrope}} No]], it's definitely not okay.
* DysfunctionalFamily: And how.

* FullFrontalAssault: Beloved in the novel's climax.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Gone horribly, HORRIBLY wrong.
* [[spoiler: InfantImmortality]]: [[spoiler: Horribly, horribly averted]].
* JigsawPuzzlePlot

* MamaBear: Played ''very'' darkly.

* MindScrew: One of the best examples you'll find in English literature.

* [[PsychopathicManchild Psychopathic Womanchild]]: Beloved.
* RapeAsDrama
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Beloved.

Was cited as one of the books instrumental in Morrison winning the NobelPrizeInLiterature in 1993.

Beloved (1987) is a PulitzerPrize winning {{novel}} by Creator/ToniMorrison.

Beloved (1987) is a PulitzerPrize winning {{novel}} by ToniMorrison.

It was made into a film in 1998 starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover.

* WorkingOnTheChainGang: Paul D's most traumatising experience of slavery.

* BenevolentBoss: [[DecontructedTrope Deconstructed]] by the kindly Garners, at least as the trope applies to slavery. The owners of the Sweet Home ranch treat their slaves well and deplore the abuses endemic on neighbouring farms, but ultimately are no more than watered-down versions of the sadistic schoolteacher, who have no moral qualms about possessing fellow human beings.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler:What happens to Beloved at the end]].

In 1873, during the aftermath of slavery and TheAmericanCivilWar, a ghost haunts 124 Bluestone Road. Sethe and her youngest daughter Denver live with the ghost of a vengeful dead baby (Sethe's firstborn daughter) until the arrival of Paul D, an old acquaintance from Sethe's past days as a slave. After Paul D chases away the spirit and situates himself into their lives, it appears as though Sethe finally has a chance at stability and happiness. However, this changes when a beautiful young woman in a pretty hat emerges from nowhere and magicks her way into 124.

Beloved (1987) is a Pulitzer Prize winning {{novel}} by ToniMorrison.

Beloved (1987) is a Pulitzer Prize winning {{novel}} by Creator/ToniMorrison.

Beloved (1987) is a Pulitzer Prize winning {{novel}} by ToniMorrison.